DEEP CREEK IS BACK!
GIRLS' DISTANCE RACES WILL BE GREAT
BOYS' 1600 - WAR!
FORK UNION, VA -- At the time of this writing meet management was still waiting on Woodside's entries. That fact leads this article for one reason, should Derrick Robbins be entered in the 1600 it would bring the total of sub 4:30 milers to six with Hari Mix being the top entrant. Mix is coming off a scintillating performance in the two mile at Arcadia. The Stanford bound senior clocked 9:00 in a star studded field. Mix will also run the 800 on Saturday.
This marks the sixth running of the Gus Lacy Track Classic, a meet that is quietly approaching elite status. Consider that three of the four crowned State indoor champions from this past season (Deep Creek, Western Albemarle and Charlottesville) will be competing, along with Prep League Champions Woodberry Forest and defending Outdoor Private School Champions Fork Union and well hence the name classic. Further adding to the quality are perennial powers Atlee, Western Branch, Forest Park, Manchester and Midlothian. Also adding to the loaded field will be J.R. Tucker led by Jay Wyss, Michael Chapa and Thuom Mathaing. The meet will also feature Central Virginia's best all around track athlete in Reuben Jones. Jones will be the leading entrant in the 100.
While Deep Creek and Charlottesville figure to clash in the jumps and sprints, no team figures to dominate the distance races and that could clear the path for Deep Creek to win its fifth team title. The Girls' meet will feature two of the years' highest achievers with Amanda Patterson entered in the 1600 and Footlocker finalist Beth Fahey in the 3200. Western Albemarle will figure highly in both races with the sisters Fanning and Stafford. Gina Casella will run her last race at Fork Union on Saturday, Casella has seemingly been running for the Warriors since kindergarten. She will be missed at Fork Union. Look for Gene Bowen's Manchester team to take the ladies title.
This year the meet will honor Sonny Randle. Randle started attending the Academy when he was in the first grade. He would go on to an Olympic Trials berth in track and a lengthy career in the NFL. Later, Randle coached college football at East Carolina, Virginia and Marshall. Today Randle is the host of a syndicated sports radio show. This year's meet is also special in that it is the first since the passing of Gus Lacy. Lacy, a teacher, coach and administrator at the Academy for over forty years died shortly after Christmas in 2003. Saturday is for him.